Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-02-17

clearly stated, it seems to me, than in thi:
bill. When the law of 1918 was upon it
passage in congress the number of pen
sioners to be benefited thereby wa;
thought to be 374, but the number of APP
plications under the act was 22,297, and
the number of pensions actually allowed
was 20,485, counting those reported fol
the fiscal year, and $1,847, 300 were paid
instead of $4,000, the estimated expens-
es for that period. A law was passed
in 1863 for the benefit of the sur
vlving widows of revolutionary soldiers
who were married after Jan. 1, 1900. II
was estimated that they numbered 800 at
the time of the passage of the act but
the number of pensions allowed was
3,742, and the amount paid for such pen
sions during the first year of the opera
ton of the act was $1SO,000 instead of
S24, 900 as had been estimated. / need
not search for other illustrations and
the above, being on hand, are given
as tending to show that
ESTIMATES CANNOT BE RELIED UPON
in such cases. If none should be pen
stoned under this bill except those utterly
unable to work, / am satisfied that the
cost stated in the estimate referred to
would be many times multiplied, and
with constant increase from year to year,
and If those partially unable to earn sup
port should be admitted to the privileges
of the bill, probably the increase of ex-
Pense would be almost appalling. think
it may be said that at the close of
the rebellion every northern state and a
great majority of the northern counties
and cities were burdened with taxation
on account of bounties paid our soldiers
and the bonded debt thereby created still
constitutes large item in the account of
the tax gatherers against the people.
The federal taxation, no less borne by
the people than that directly levied upon
their prop erty, is still maintained at a
rate made necessary by the e1igencies of
war. If this bill should become alaw with
tremendous addition to our previous OBJ
legation, am thoroughly convinced that
further efforts to
REDUCE FEDERAL REVENUE
and restore some part of it to our people
will, and perhaps, should be seriously
cause of pride end coagratulution to the
American citizen that his country is not
put to the charge Of maintaining largo
are now living and a war tax which has
been tolerated in peaceful times to meet
the obligations incurred in war, But
for years past, in all parts of the coun-
try, the demand for reduction of the
burdens of taxation upon our labor and
production has increased in volume and
urgency. am not willing to approve a
measure presenting the objections to
NH oh &c Il oh
over will have the effect of disappointing
the expectation of the people, their
desire and hope for relief from war tax
alton in time of peace.
In my last annual message the follow
ing language was used: every patriotic
heart responds to tender considera-
ton for those who having served their
country long and we'll are reduced to des-
titution and dependence, not as incident
of their service but with advancing age
or through sickness or misfortunes, and
we are all tempted by contemp lation of
such condition to
SUPPLY RELIEF,
and are often impatient of the limitations
of public duty, yielding to none to desire
to indulge this feeling of consideration,
I cannot rid myself of the conviction that
if these ex-soldiers are to he relieved,
they and their cause are entitled to an
enactment under which relief may be
claimed as right, and that such relief
should be granted under sanction of
law, not in evasion of it. Nor
should such worthy objects of care,
all equally entitled, be RENTED to the
unequal operation of sympathy or of the
tender mercy of social and political in
fuence, with their unjust determinations.
| do not think that the objects, condi-
tons and limitations thus suggested are
contained in the bill under consideration.
| adhere to the sentiments thus hereto
fore expressed, but the evil threatened
by this bill is, in my opinion, such that,
charged with great ponsibilityin behalf
of the people, I cannot do otherwise than
to bring to the consideration of this
measure my best efforts of thought and
Judgment, and perform my constitution
al duty in relation thereto, regardless of
all consequences except such as appear
to me to be related to the best and high
est interests of the country.
GROVER CLEVELAND.